A Darker Shade Of Magic by V. E. Schwab Genre: Action, Fantasy, Historical Fiction I think I deserve a pat on my back for finishing my first adult fiction book. I have read quite a few young adult fantasy and it's quite safe to say they are worlds apart. A Darker Shade of Magic lives up to its name. Witches? Warlocks? Mythical creatures? Nope. We are getting plain old magicians. And the classics never go out of style. |
Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit.
Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London—but no one speaks of that now.
Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her 'proper adventure'.
But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive—trickier than they hoped.
Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London—but no one speaks of that now.
Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her 'proper adventure'.
But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive—trickier than they hoped.
This book is unique. We get a raw fantasy, not some sugar coated action book. A book doesn't have to leave someone dead for me to call it raw. I see it in their actions and words. I might just prefer the classic word magicians compared to any other fancy terms after reading this book.
"It's rigged," growled Ned. |
After reading this I pretty much was like who needs warlocks anyways? There are many urban fantasy books out there which spoon-feeds readers, some which just put all the information about the world in one conversation, some with hot guys just appearing out of thin air, always nonchalant and condescends those who don't understand the customs going on in the world, explaining the world like it's the most obvious thing to them since they were born.
This book is not one of them.
I love this book for giving me a real fantasy, a real adventure. We get to visit the world without lovebirds eating off each other's faces before they got down to attacking. This book is just realistic like that. There was chemistry between both characters and a little bit of a romance. I'm so thankful the author didn't make it the oh-we-went-through-deadly-times-together-and-so-we-fell-in-love. After everything, we don't have angst people blinded by love or any infatuation, the characters are still themselves.
This book is not one of them.
I love this book for giving me a real fantasy, a real adventure. We get to visit the world without lovebirds eating off each other's faces before they got down to attacking. This book is just realistic like that. There was chemistry between both characters and a little bit of a romance. I'm so thankful the author didn't make it the oh-we-went-through-deadly-times-together-and-so-we-fell-in-love. After everything, we don't have angst people blinded by love or any infatuation, the characters are still themselves.
"I would rather die on an adventure than live standing still." |
Their personality stays. They know themselves. They know what are dreams. The know what could be temporary and what could last for an eternity.
There were a lot of power struggle in this book. We don't get a Samaritan and a saint for our protagonist. They aren't little angels who fight for justice without committing shit on the way - and by that I don't mean by murder, every action book has murder these days, I just go a little MEH when I see it. They are human. They err. They go down a dark path. Whether they come back up from it, you have to read it for yourself.
There were a lot of power struggle in this book. We don't get a Samaritan and a saint for our protagonist. They aren't little angels who fight for justice without committing shit on the way - and by that I don't mean by murder, every action book has murder these days, I just go a little MEH when I see it. They are human. They err. They go down a dark path. Whether they come back up from it, you have to read it for yourself.